 |
Sturgeon Bay Canal, Photo by Krenda
|
 |
Walk the breakwall
|
If you want a quick stop to discuss the history of transportation, stop at the U.S. Coast Guard Station. Considering my passion for lighthouses, the kids can wonder how much time could get spent at a lighthouse. You have to consider the tour, walking up the stairs, and taking time for the view. In this case, you can't wander on the grounds and the government offers no tour (except during annual lighthouse festival). It's an active Coast Guard station. You have a quick stop, walking from the parking lot to the north breakwall. It does give you a nice view of two lighthouses. The first lighthouse, Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse, has a cylindrical design and stands tall at 78 feet. Originally painted a reddish brown, it was repainted white in 1900. The second lighthouse, Ship Canal North Pierhead Lighthouse, originally had white paint and later painted red. It stands 35 feet above water at the end of the jetty.
 |
Ship Canal North Pierhead
|
You also have a waterfront view. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal connects Sturgeon Bay with Lake Peninsula. The approximately 7 mile canal provides a shortcut to the southern end of Green Bay. It allows ships to avoid the dangerous "Death's Door" passage at the northern tip of the Door Peninsula. At the end of the jetty when you are close to the Pierhead Lighthouse, turn around and take a photos of the Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse too.
The lighthouses evolved over time to solve problems, whether adding a fog horn, better light, electricity, or larger keeper house, the government invested for marine safety. The Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse had structural issues from the wind vibration, so a steel framework was added.
No comments:
Post a Comment